Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) and Mubadala Bio have announced a strategic collaboration to advance the localised packaging and logistics of Lilly’s GLP-1 medicines in Abu Dhabi, marking an important step in a shared commitment to advancing the emirate’s growing life sciences ecosystem.
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The Strait of Hormuz could become redundant within five years as Gulf countries accelerate investment in alternative energy export routes following the Iran war, HSBC Group Chief Executive Georges Elhedery said, even as renewed supply concerns pushed Brent crude above $110 a barrel on Wednesday.
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UAE developer Arada has launched Arada KSA, marking its entry into Saudi Arabia with a AED14 billion ($3.8 billion) residential development in Riyadh. Spanning 2.5 million sq m, it will boast 3,500 villas and townhouses surrounded by 100,000 trees, with top-class amenities including a school, retail and sporting facilities.
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The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute has postponed the 10th edition of its flagship conference, themed "The Power of Legacy," which was scheduled to take place in Riyadh from October 26 to 29, 2026, to next year.
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GCC capital markets have witnessed significant development in recent years, driven by governments’ efforts to diversify funding sources and deepen capital markets, said top rating agency Fitch, adding the combined market capitalisation of listed equity markets across the Gulf region stands at around $4 trillion.
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UAE-based Blue Rhine Industries has announced that it has secured the contract from ALEC Engineering and Contracting for the installation and commissioning of LED screens that make up the immense Exosphere, a fully programmable exterior display at the $1.7 billion Sphere Abu Dhabi development.
Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) achieved another record trade performance in the first half of 2026, with the total value of trade across its three economic zones reaching AED246 billion ($66.98 billion), an increase of 17% compared to the same period last year.
Egypt has signalled its readiness to provide military support to Saudi Arabia to defend the kingdom against escalating Houthi attacks, as the UAE and Saudi Arabia stepped up high-level consultations on regional security amid growing fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
The value of Dubai's real estate investments has grown steadily over the past few years, rising nearly five-fold from AED148 billion ($40.2 billion) in 2021 to more than AED680 billion ($185 billion) in 2025, said a leading UAE brokerage, adding the number of investments have jumped from 72,000 to 259,000 over the period.
The GCC countries have built an investment base of $426 billion across nearly 22,000 factories, contributing 13% of regional GDP in 2025, said a report. About 40% of the industrial investments are concentrated in key sectors such as plastics, refined petroleum products, aluminium and iron and steel.
Two of the major events in the Saudi construction sector - the 36th edition of Saudi Build and the 27th edition of Saudi Elenex - originally scheduled to be held from November 2 to 5 in the capital Riyadh have been postponed to next year due to the ongoing Middle East tensions.
Dubai’s economy reached AED473 billion ($129 billion) in the first half of 2026, driven by strong performance across key sectors, including financial and insurance services, healthcare, information and communication, and construction.
UAE-based Azizi Developments has begun work on master-planned workforce communities in Dubai and Sharjah designed to accommodate more than 31,000 people, with its flagship Al Sajaa project in the northern emirate comprising 36 residential buildings and integrated medical, retail, wellness and dining facilities for over 20,000 residents.
The global economy has weathered the latest in a series of shocks better than expected, but outcomes have diverged across countries and resilience should not be taken for granted - there is no room for complacency in a rapidly changing world marked by heightened uncertainty, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) is gearing up for its upcoming 15th annual congress in Dubai. Marking 20 years of climate leadership, the landmark gathering will see government, finance and industry leaders take part in the two-day along with the hosting of the 14th Mena Green Building Awards.
IDOM has been selected by Shanxi Installation Group to carry out the detailed design for the 500 MW Al Kamil I Solar Project in Oman, further strengthening the company’s presence in the Middle East’s growing renewable energy sector.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, today (October 21) launched the only nonstop service between Luxembourg and Abu Dhabi, becoming the first airline from the Middle East to fly to Luxembourg.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world's largest aluminium smelter on one site, held discussions with key industry stakeholders, at the London Metal Exchange (LME) Week 2026 event, exchanging perspectives on market developments and trends shaping the global aluminium industry.
US-based VAST Data, the AI Operating System company, and Abu Dhabi AI infrastructure and cloud company Hyperfusion have announced plans to integrate the VAST AI Operating System into Hyperfusion’s Sentinel modular AI infrastructure as its preferred data platform.
The Gulf is one of the most active investment regions in the world. Diversification efforts have opened sectors from logistics and healthcare to technology, energy and financial services, and international capital has followed. But deals in the region rarely stall over price – they stall over process, timing and people. Investors who understand this early tend to close faster and build stronger partnerships.
Danantara Indonesia, through its investment arm, PT Danantara Investment Management (DIM), has acquired 4.4 hectares of land plots within the SAR26 billion ($7 billion) Thakher Makkah development, following the acquisition and handover of Novotel Thakher Makkah. The transaction involves an operating hotel with 1,461 rooms and suites.
The UAE plans to develop a unified national health emergency command and control system over the next two years, building on Abu Dhabi's integrated model, said Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Prevention.
DP World Foundation (DPWF), the philanthropic arm of DP World, together with Belawan New Container Terminal (BNCT), has marked the ground breaking of an AED3.7 million ($1.01 million) junior high school in Belawan, Medan, Indonesia.
AW Rostamani Group has announced the launch of VerraPak, marking the next phase in the development of its packaging business, formerly Sineo Packaging. Operating from a 50,000 sq ft facility in Dubai Industrial City, VerraPak has 15 high-speed production lines with over 400 million units annual capacity.
The global Islamic finance industry maintained a strong growth trajectory in 2025, with total assets reaching $6.5 trillion, up 9% year-on-year. Growth was supported by the continued expansion in Islamic banking, record sukuk issuance, strong Islamic fund performance, and new regulatory frameworks.
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the trial operation of the Dubai Glydways automated transit system at a premium retail destination in the emirate - Bluewaters. The system uses autonomous electric vehicles supported by artificial intelligence technologies, operating on dedicated guideways.
Two-time Grammy-winning blues guitarist Eric Gales and acclaimed steel pan musician Leon Foster Thomas will headline the 10th anniversary edition of the Bahrain Jazz Fest, which kicks off on December 4, bringing an international mix of blues, jazz, soul and world music to the kingdom.
Archi, Georgia’s leading real estate developer, has unveiled the next phase of Archi Grand Avenue, a GEL 2 billion ($770 million) development in capital Tbilisi. The new phase introduces a five-star Hilton hotel, Wyndham Residences and an international team of architects, designers and commercial development specialists.
